The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) said four counties have received a combined $1 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funds to advance varied transportation projects.
Transit Village grants were earmarked for Pleasantville City, Atlantic County ($250,000); Bloomfield, Essex County ($380,000); Jersey City, Hudson County ($250,000); and South Amboy, Middlesex County ($120,000).
“The Department of Transportation’s dedication to the people of New Jersey extends far beyond our roadways,” NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. “Initiatives like the Transit Village program spur community and economic growth and improve the quality of life for all New Jersey’s residents and visitors.”
The Transit Village program is a multi-agency smart growth endeavor in which municipalities with transit facilities within their borders can seek entry into the initiative.
Entities are designated a Transit Village by developing plans for dense, mixed-use redevelopment, including housing near their transit facility, with authorities noting the facility can service commuter rail, bus, ferry, or light rail.
The effort creates incentives to revitalize areas around transit stations to create attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods conducive to living, shopping, working, and playing without relying on automobiles.
Additionally, the Transit Village Program benefits residents by enabling local governments to reduce or eliminate reliance on local property tax dollars to support projects.